Also Titled: It's All Arthur's Fault!

The large council room was packed with Nelwyns. They chattered and argued amongst themselves while the High Aldwyn sat at the front of the room and oversaw the proceedings.

Sadiq, being one of the most important people in the village, stood up to have his say: "Silence!"

Everyone quieted. "One beast we can kill, but there may be more! And you can be assured that they won't give up until they find what they're looking for!" Arthur and his family entered the room, Arthur holding the baby closer at Sadiq's words.

"It's a sign!" one man called.

"Who's to blame for this?!"

"We must find the culprit and throw him in the pit!"

Oh great… Arthur and Francine looked at each other as the whole crowd began chanting, "In the pit! In the pit!" They turned around slowly and were about to leave when a voice called out,

"Arthur? Arthur Kirkland?"

It was the High Aldwyn. The crowd parted and made way for Arthur as he walked forward, looking at the High Aldwyn sheepishly. "Come forward," the High Aldwin beckoned. The crowd stared dangerously at Arthur as he shuffled forward with the baby.

"My children found this baby alone by the river, High Aldwyn," he explained, showing him the baby. She squirmed and let out a cry.

"A Daikini child!" the High Aldwyn gasped.

Sadiq stepped forward again. "That's what the beasts want; let's give it back to them!" The crowd roared in agreement.

Arthur held the baby closer. "They'll kill her! You can't!"

Sadiq shook his head at Arthur's stupidity. "It's not one of us."

The High Aldwyn peered closely at the babe. "This child is special!" Everyone shut up to listen to him. "This child must be taken beyond the boundaries of our village, all the way across the great river to the Daikini crossroads."

There was a pause before someone asked, "Well, who'll do that?"

Sadiq grinned maliciously before interrupting. "Well, it seems only fair that the man who has to take this baby to the crossroads be the very man who plucked it out of the river. I nominate Arthur Kirkland."

"No!" Francine shouted.

The crowd murmured and Arthur flinched nervously. Him? He'd never been across the river in his entire life. Surely there was someone more qualified… He looked beseechingly at the High Aldwyn.

The High Aldwyn shook a pouch around his neck. "I will consult the bones!" He shook out five bones and everyone quieted to hear his verdict. He looked at Arthur and whispered so quietly that no one else could hear, "The bones tell me…nothing." The baby cooed and the High Aldwyn looked at it, then back at Arthur.

"Do you have any love for this child?" he asked softly.

The baby looked at Arthur too, as if interested in what he would say. Arthur nodded slowly. "...Yes. Yes I do."

The High Aldwyn stood up and shouted, "The bones have spoken! Arthur Kirkland, the safety of this village depends on you." Francine closed her eyes and held back a sob as the villagers cheered. "But you will need help: who has the courage to protect this brave fellow on his journey?"

Tino stepped forward. "I will go." Arthur smiled gratefully while people nodded and clapped Tino on the back.

Heracles pushed through the crowd. "I'm coming too."

Sadiq objected to this. "No! Not Heracles! He's the best warrior in our village! We need him here. Heracles, step back!"

Heracles gritted his teeth but reluctantly stepped back and left the room.

The High Aldwyn looked at Sadiq slyly. "All this expedition needs is a leader. And according to the bones…that leader is…you, Sadiq."

Sadiq visibly paled and turned in the direction Heracles had left. "Heracles! Come back!"

The High Aldwyn had agreed to see them off as they began their journey. He was walking beside Arthur. As Heracles and several volunteer warriors others walked by to prepare their packs, the High Aldwyn looked at Arthur and asked bluntly, "What's your problem, son?"

Arthur looked up, confused. "How do you mean?"

"When I held up my fingers, what was your first impulse?"

"Oh…that. Well, it was stupid."

"Just tell me."

"…To pick my own finger."

The High Aldwyn stopped and grinned. "Aha! That was the correct answer. You lack faith in yourself. More than anyone in the village, you have the potential to be a great sorcerer." Arthur blinked in shock.

"Now, when you're out there," The High Aldwyn continued, "Listen to your own heart." He rummaged in a bag at his waist and pulled out three acorns. "These will protect you." Arthur looked at them dubiously.

"Acorns?"

The High Aldwyn looked at him like he was an idiot. "They're magic! Anything you throw them at turns to stone!"

Arthur looked at them again but he still couldn't quite believe it. The High Aldwyn saw this and smiled kindly. "You have much to learn, young Kirkland." He made the magic sign of farewell, a signal that Arthur should join his companions.

Arthur put the acorns in his pocket and walked over to the clearing where the company was packing their bags. Peter and Michelle watched him as he packed his own sack.

"Are you scared, Dada?" Michelle asked.

"No!" Arthur scoffed, leaning down to grin at them confidently.

"Even with faeries in the woods that will put you to sleep for a hundred years?" Peter piped up.

Arthur paused for a moment. "…Doesn't bother me," he finally said. He hoped his bluff would stop the questions, but apparently Peter had plenty of them.

"Brownies?"

Michelle chimed in, wide-eyed. "Dragons?"

"Trolls? Trolls that'll skin you alive and take your face off?!"

"Peter!" Arthur half shouted. "You know I hate trolls."

"I can be your guard and carry your spear," Peter offered.

"Me too, Dada!" Michelle said.

Arthur pulled them close, laughing. "What a lucky father I am. I wish I could take you bobbins with me." They hugged for a minute until Arthur spotted some nearby children and nudged them. "Go play! Go on."

They ran off and he quickly shouldered his pack, which was shaped like a papoose to hold the baby, over his plain blue tunic. He walked over to where Francine was waiting with the baby sleeping in her arms. She placed the baby inside the papoose.

"We've never been apart," she said reflectively as she tightened the straps. She spun Arthur around and smiled sadly. "I miss you already."

Arthur smiled back. "Don't worry Francine, I'll be fine. I'll be back before you know it."

Francine nodded bravely. "…Well, remember to keep her warm. And… here." She placed a braid of long brown hair in his palms. "This will bring you luck."

Arthur looked at her in surprise and pushed back her headscarf enough to see her shorn hair. He pulled her in for a tight embrace and kissed her.

The High Aldwyn approached the group. "Good, brave people! The outer world is no place for a Nelwyn," he counseled. "Give the baby to the first Daikini you see, then hurry home." He picked up a small rock and shook it slightly. "Tuatha…lokwathrak…tuatha!" He threw it high into the air and everyone gasped as it turn into a small white bird. "Go in the direction the bird is flying!"

Sadiq looked at the bird critically as it flew off. He pointed at it with his staff. "It's going back to the village!"

The High Aldwyn did a double take. "Er, ignore the bird, follow the river."

"Move out!" Heracles yelled, and the group started marching through the woods.

The first Daikini they see, eh? Heheheheheh...